Tabulating form and method



July 6, 1965 H. o. BONNAR TABULATING FORM AND METHOD 3 Sheets-Sheet lFiled Sept. 28, 1959 PE RM 0A CN July 6, 1965 Filed sept. 28, 1959 :lili

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July 6, 1965 H. o. BoNNAR 3,193,665

TABULATING FORM AND METHOD Filed Sept. 28, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 UnitedStates Patent O 3,193,665 TABULATENG FGRM AND METHOD Henry 0. Bonnar,Marblehead, Mass. BonnarVawter, Inc., Keene, N.H.,) Filed Sept. 28,1959, Ser. No. 842,716 8 Claims. (Cl. 23S-61.12.)

This invention relates to business forms and more particularly to anovel machine readable tabulating form and novel methods ofmanufacturing and using it.

In recent years, automated business systems have been used in manyindustries, the well-known punched cards being widely used for suchpurpose. However, little attention has been paid to the use of automatictabulation in a variety of situations, for example, with orders writtenin the eld by salesmen and others, so that a great deal of hand workmust still be carried out in transferring the handwritten information onthe usual order forms onto punched cards and the like.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide noveltabulating forms and methods of manufacturing and using them wherebysalesmen and others in the field can directly enter information onmachine readable forms which may thereafter be used directly to actuateautomated reading and tabulating machinery for producing punched cardsand the like.

f More specifically, a major object of the present invention is toprovide a source document which can be machine read to producetabulating cards automatically, such a source document being that paperor form on which oral agreements are initially committed to a writtenform for transmittal, for example, of an order to the factory or thelike. This has heretofore generally been done in handwritten form andthen transcribed by a typist. By using a handwritten document for theentire sequence, however, the present invention eliminates such a typingoperation which is expensive and time consuming as Well as a source ofpotential error.

In modern office procedures, such a source document becomes the basicdocument which is used for the making up of tabulating cards which arevital to a computing and tabulating installation. In many cases,especially where the size of the individual order, do1lar-wise, issmall, the cost of the making of the necessary tabulating card is verysignificant. It is also time consuming. Thus, with a business situationhaving many small orders and a computing and tabulating installationwith a high speed printer for handling them, it was necessary that therebe many people punching cards just to keep up with the high rate atwhich the computing and tabulating machine used the cards.

With the heretofore known systems wherein the tabulating cards weremanually prepared, first a card was manually punched using informationfrom the Lsource document. That card was then put in a verifier andpunched again. If the punching the second time was Vnot identical withthe first, the machine stopped and the source of the error wasdetermined, whether it be iirstor second punching, and the card wascorrected if necessary. According to the present invention, however,such manual punching is eliminated entirely and furthermore thetabulating is accomplished much faster and more accurately.

Too, in many situations the source document should be continuous to gainthe most benefit from the automatic card punching operation. Theproblem, however, is that such document may be used singly at twopoints-Anst, when the salesman makes it up, a situation in which itwould be unwieldy to use a continuous form andsecondly, the form may beused for picking the items to ll the order at the warehouse and may evenbecome rthe packing slip and thus eventually end up back at the source.Because the form may be so used singly as well as in continuous fashion,it is an important feature of the invention to provide a form that makesthis possible.

The machine readable tabulating form of the invention, then, comprises aiiexible paper strip folded in the manner of a fan, i.e. fan folded,along perforated fold lines, to provide a conveniently small assemblyfor use in the field, yet one capable of listing a great number ofindividual inventory items or other qualities thereon. In addition to aform identification section, preferably at the head end of the form, inwhich may be entered a salesmans name, address, code number and thelike, the form includes a multiplicity of individual quality or itemtabulation sections which extend entirely across the width of the formand are longitudinally spaced from one another for sequential readingupon advance of the form through a reading and tabulating machine. Thefolded assembly of the strip form of the invention is unique in enablingthe listing of a large number of individual items or other qualities inits section for machine reading, yet in a convenient assembly for fielduse. For example, as many as fty items may be listed on each side ofeach page of such a form, so that a four page form printed on both sidesmay readily list several hundred items with adequate room for headingsand other desirable identiiication. To make possible the use of the formboth by human readers and machine readers and tabulators, each item orquality tabulation section includes printed indicia symbolicallyidentifying each section for human recognition as Well as space forentry of the quality, such as the quantity of the item or other qualityto be tabulated therein. It also includes machine initiating indicia formachine recognition of each section and preferably punched holes formechanically feeding the form, as well Vas machine tabulating indiciadefining a numerical code for tabulating such quality, for example, thequantity of the item entered in each section. This code is preferablyone which is readily usable by persons in the field, such as by drawingpencil lines in specified positions dependent upon a numerical quantity,so that the transposition of the entered quality to a coded machinereadable quality does not require additional services, although suchcould be so done if desired for any reason.

To aid in the machine reading of the form of the invention, theterminating pages thereof are provided with glue lines preferably ofco-adhesive glue so that a number of forms may be attached in head totail relationship to provide a continuous strip thereof of indeterminatelength for machine reading. Machine total form sensing indicia areprovided so that individual forms may be sensed. Also, machine readersmay be employed for reading a code number on each form for entry ontotabulating cards or otherwise.

The methods of the invention comprise the manufacture of the abovedescribed form by methods related to forni manufacturing processesemploying folding a continuous sheet of paper in the manner of aJapanese fan, i.e. fan folding, followed by the assembly and reading ofthe forms, after completion by a salesman or other person, .by automatedmachinery.

There are a number of reasons why it is desirable to produce the form ofthe invention by fan folding processes. One is because variations inhumidity make paper expand and contract. Such dimensional instability isgreater across the paper sheet than in the longitudinal directionthereof. Because a typical form reading niachine is activated by themachine initiating indicia on the form and not by some mechanical devicewhich measures distance, the spacing from one such indicia to the nextis of little importance. However, once such indicia activates the formreading mechanism, the relationship of the punched holes andtheinitiating and tabulating indicia becomes vital, in order to avoidreading the wrong quantity because of misspacing. According to theinvention, then, the establishment `of this relationship is such as tomalte it much less affected by variations in paper length caused byvariations of humidity.

Another reason to manufacture the form of the invention by the novelmethods thereof is because the manner in which the forms will be usedwill vary with different companies. For example, the number of itemswill vary considerably, and even within a company the number of itemsmay vary seasonally, say from almost 700 during the Christmas season to500 normally. if the form were to be printed at right angles to themanner of the preferred method of the invention paper would be wastedwhen fewer items exist than are needed to fill out the whole form or,alternatively, there would have to be a variety of different diametercylinders, the latter in particular having substantial economicdisadvantages. More specifically, the methods of the invention comprisecontinuously operating upon an extende-d sheet of paper of indeterminatelength and of width equal to that of the length of the form to print,perforate and apply glue lines before fan folding, punching and finallycutting into individual forms. The printing is carried outsimultaneously across the width of the sheet to provide symbolic andother indicia defining a series of forms, each extending across theentire width of the sheet and being in side by side abuttingrelationship with one another. The individual quality or item tabulationsections thus extend across the width of the form in the long dimensionof the sheet, as do the fold defining perforation lines. The glue linesare applied to the edges of the sheet, with one of the glue lines on theopposite face of the sheet from the other.

After fan folding the continuously moving sheet, it is punched toprovide the apertures on superposed pages in registry with one another,and the sheet is then cut trans- Versely to separate the individualforms from one another. lt should be especially noted that during theabove operations, the sheet is advanced from one step to the next in adirection perpendicular to the long dimension of the form. This makespossible the simultaneous printing and punching of an entire form of alength of several feet as is required to accommodate a large number ofindividual sections, the simultaneous printing and punching makingpossible the accurate registry and alignment of machine indicia andfeeding apertures on a fiexible distortable sheet of paper.

After an individual form has been used by entering the desiredinformation, both writtten and coded as is described above, a series offorms are attached together in head to tail relationship to provide astrip of indeterminate length and the strip is then machine read, as forthe direct production of punched cards, by advancing it in a directionalong its length for successive reading of the indicia of each section.This makes possible the use of relatively simple reading apparatus,since such apparatus need read but one section at a time with thisarrangement. The reading and tabulating apparatus is much simplified asa result, to the extent that for the first time it becomes economicallyfeasible for many industries to establish automatic inventory or othercontrol, for example.

For the purpose of explaining further objects and features of theinvention reference is now made to the following detailed description ofpreferred embodiments thereof, together with the accompanying drawing,wherein FIG. l is an isometric view of the form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of two forms of the invention partiallyattached in head to tail relationship;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic View of an extended sheet of paper having aplurality of forms printed thereon in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic View of a strip of forms attached in head totail relationship for advance through a reading machine in accordancewith the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic view showing apparatus useful in the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, the form of the invention consists of a fan foldedfiexible paper strip 12 of substantially greater length than width,herein shown as having four pages printed on both front and back, thefront pages being numbered 1P, 2F, 3F, 4F, in sequence and the backpages being numbered 1B, 2B, 3B, and 4B in sequence. More pages can beused if desired. The pages are of `substantially equal length with theirfold lines defined by lines of perforations, perforations 14 betweenpages 1F and 2F, perforations T15 between pages 2F and 3F andperforations 1d between pages 3F and 4F. The terminating pages each havefree edges, the head page having a free edge 243 and the rear pagehaving a free edge 21. Glue lines are provided along said free edges onopposite faces of the form for attaching together a series of forms inhead to tail relationship as is illustrated in FG. 2, the glue line 22adjacent edge 2t) on the head page being on the back face of the formand the glue line 23 adjacent edge 21 being on the front face of theform. The glue used is preferably of the co-adhesive variety whichsticks only to itself. To aid in separating forms after they have beenattached as in FIG. 2, a line of perforations is placed along each glueline, perforations 24 on the head sheet and perforations 25 on the tailsheet.

Preferably, one of the terminating pages, here the tail page 4F, isshorter than the other pages by an amount at least as great as the widthof the glue line, as may be seen in FIG. l. This aids in providinguniform stacking of the forms by reducing their thickness along the endat which both glue lines are present.

At least one page of the form, preferably the head page iF, has a spaceat one end thereof in which the company name is printed as shown and mayinclude any other printed information that may be desired, usuallyinformation of a type which need not be read by a reading and tabulatingmachine. The head page also includes a total form identification section30 which extends across the entire width of the form between the dottedlines 31, 33 which are herein added for clarity in defining thelongitudinal extent of said section. This total form identificationsection includes printed indicia symbolically identifying a particularform for human recognition and identification and entry of total forminformation therein, such as name, address, etc., and preferably a codenumber which can be read by suitable reading machinery, all as is shownin FIG. 1 in said section Sil. The total form identification sectionalso includes machine total form sensing indicia appearing as a printedline 34, and other such indicia may be printed at the end of the form onpage 4F at 36, and on the other face of the form on page 1B at 3S onpage 4B at 37. These indicia are suitable for recognition by knownphotocell sensing means and are positioned on the form in such a mannerthat upon advance of the form in its longitudinal direction relative toa total form indicia Sensing means no other indicia is present forsensing by said means. This is accomplished by reserving a longitudinalcolumn, defined between dotted lines 38, 3d for illustration in FIG. 1,which extends for the entire length of the form. Of course, other typesof indicia and sensing means therefor may be utilized, for example,electromagnetic or electric sensing may be used.

Following the total form identification section Sti are a multiplicityof individual item tabulation sections such as section 40 defined asbetween lines 41 and 42. These individual item tabulation sectionsextend across the entire width of the form and are longitudinally spacedfrom one another as may be seen in FIG. 1 for sequential reading of saidsections upon advance of the form in its longitudinal direction througha reading and tabu- Same manner.

lating `machine therefor. The entire remainder of the front face of theform on pages 1F, 2F, 3F, 4F and the entire rear face of the form onpages 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B are printed with sequential individual itemtabulation sec-y tions so that a very great number of separate items maybe entered and tabulated on a single form-furthermore, the sections maybe much closer together than as shown in FIG. l for clarity, so that atleast three or four times as many sections may readily be included on aform no larger than that shown in FIG. 1.

Each of the time tabulation sections 4t) includes printed indiciasymbolically identifying each of the sections, such as ITEM A, ITEM B,ITEM E, as shown in FIG. 1, and a space defined by a line 44 precedingsuch item identication for entry of the quantity of the yitem to betabulated therein, such as the quantity "7 entered at linev 44 insection iti before iTEM E. Machine tabulating indicia based on anumerical code are also provided in each said section for coding thequantity of the item tabulated therein for machine reading. YAl- .thougha variety of coding systems may be used, it is -irnportant that it be asimple and easily understandable one readily usable in the field.

Accordingly, the coding system used comprises a series 0f dots 46extending across the width of the form, said dots defining a numberbetween any two adjacent dots. As shown in FIG. 1 as a simplifiedillustration, ten dots are used to define the numbers l, 2 9, which arealso printed on the form between the dots to facilitate the coding ofentered information. The quantity information is entered in the line ofcoded dots simply by drawing a pencil line between adjacent dotsdefining the vquantity to be entered, for example, as shown in section4) in FIG. 1, a line 47 has been drawn between the dots defining seven.Thus any quantity of an item less than tcn maybe directly tabulated onthe formillustrated and higher numbers may be tabulated by utilizing areading machine capable of addition. By using additional dots to definetwo digit and three digit numbers, for example, much larger quantitiesmay be tabulated in the The so coded information is read by a machinehaving ksensing means for measuring the electrical conduction of atleast a portion of the space between any two adjacent dots, as by twobrushes in contact therewith connected to suitable electrical conductionmeasuring apparatus, thus, when a pair of brushes for a given numbercome in contact with the electrically conducting pencil line between twodots, a character- 'istic signal will be produced. The dots dening agiven number are all arranged in longitudinal columnar form forsequentialsensing of a given number defined by two of said dots insuccessive sections.

In order to initiate machineoperation as to each item tabulationsection, machine initiating indicia are provided therefor, such indiciaconsisting of a printed line .48 for each section with all of said linesarranged in y longitudinal columnar form. Photoelectric reading thereofmay beemployed as above described.

The longitudinal position of the dots 45 and section indication lines 48are generally in a line across the width of the form forgenerallyvsimultaneous reading, and are related to preceding andsucceeding sections in longitudinal columnar form sufficiently spacedfrom those of said succeeding and preceding sections for completion ofthe' reading of a preceding section before beginning reading of asucceeding section. This unique arrangement of the form of the inventionmakes possible the utilization of simple reading apparatus since exactlythe same reading cycle is carried out successively as to each section bya single reading unit including means for sensing the coded indicia 47,the section lines 48 and the form lines 34, 35, 36, 37 all of thesebeing laterally spaced from one another across the width of the formbeing read. The form lines `34, 35, 36, 37 are generally on the ends ofthe form beyond the longitudinally spaced -series of section lines 48 sothat the item sensing elements of the reading machine will be turned onand off thereby and so only be energized when a form is actually beingread.

In order to control the advance of the form while it is being machineread, a series of uniformly spaced apertures is provided along each edgethereof in registry with the machine indicia such as dots 46 and sectionlines 48, although a pair of apertures need not be provided for eachsection as shown-rather any even integral relation will serve, such astwo, three or four times as many scctions as pairs of apertures 6i).Also, the apertures 60 of each page are in registry with those ofsuperposed pages for feeding and holding of folded forms in automaticform handling machines. It should be noted that hole spacing ispreserved after adhesively securing two forms together in head to tailrelationship, as may be seen in FiG. 2, by accurately mating the gluelines 22 and 23 by means of their edges 20 and 21 and perforations 24and 25. By so doing a strip of forms of indeterminate length can beprepared in which the perforations '66 are uniformly spaced even at formjunctions as is required for accurate machine` feeding to preserveregistry with the machine indicia.

The method of manufacturing the above described form, as has beenheretofore explained, features the preparation of forms bysimultaneously printing throughout the length of the form and applyingglue lines 22 and 23 and lines of perforations 14, 15, 16, 24, 25 beforefolding, perforating, and cutting. The sheet 50 so manufactured is shownin FIG. 3 after the completion of the printing, perforating, and gluing,the arrow indicating its direction of advance as perpendicular to thelength of the forms 12 printed thereon during its manufacture.

The method of reading as is diagrammatically shown in FIG. 4 may be seento be carried out at right angles to the direction of sheet movementduring manufacture, that is, along the length of a form 12 or stripthereof. The reading means 7i) diagrammatically shown therein mayinclude suitable driving rolls 71 engaging the apertures 6i) of theforms 12, as well as a total form sensing photocell device 72, anindividual item sensing photocell device 7 3, and a numerical codesensing device 74. Such devices being generally well known and inthemselves forming no part of the present invention will not herein ybefurther described. Devices or machines of types use- `mann and Pat. No.2,171,556-I-Iigginbottom et al.

Other known arrangements like these and similar equipment, modified inobvious fashion as desired for obtainmg operation as needed, may be usedfor carrying out the method of this invention.

In FIG. 5 is shown in diagrammatic form a complete method of manufactureof the form of the invention. Thus, a sheet of paper of indeterminatelength and of 'width equal to the length of the form is perforated byperforations 91, printed on both faces of printing rolls 92 and 93 andglued by edge glue application 94 and 9S t0 produce the sheet 50 of FIG.3. This sheet is then continuously fan folded by folder 96 to produce acontinuous fan folded sheet which is then punched by punching rollers 97to provide a fan folded sheet having spaced transversely extending linesof apertures Gil, the form 12 being positioned between the wide spacedlines and the form edges being positioned midway between the narrowspaced lines at 99. The sheet is then cut at 99 to produce theindividual forms 12 of the invention.

Thus, it will be seen that the invention provides a novel for-rn as wellas novel methods for using and manueneaeea facturing it. Variousmodifications of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in theart.

I claim:

1. A machine readable tabulating form comprising a fan folded ilexiblepaper strip of substantially greater f length than Width and having aplurality of folded pages of substantially equal length defined by linesof perforations extending throughout the width of the strip, said pagesincluding beginning and end terminating pages, said terminating pageseach having a co-adhesive glue line adjacent its terminating edge, withsaid glue lines on opposite faces of said strip for attaching aplurality of strips to one another in sequence to provide a form ofindeterminate length for machine reading, said strip having a series ofuniformly spaced apertures along both edges for controlling the advanceof said strip through a reading and tabulating machine therefor, amultiplicity of individual item tabulation sections in transverseregistry with said apertures and extending across the width of saidstrip and longitudinally spaced from one another for sequential readingof said sections upon longitudinal advance of said strip through areading and tabulating machine therefor, said item tabulation sectionseach including printed indicia symbolically identifying each of saiditem tabulation sections for human recognition and identication andentry of the quantity of the item to be rtabulated therein, machineinitiating indicia for machine recognition of each individual itemtabulation section and machine tabulating indicia delning a numericalbased code for tabulating the quantity of the item entered in each itemtabulation section, said tabulating indicia ex- `tending across thewidth of said strip for simultaneous presentation to a reading machineof a plurality of coded indicia together defining said quantity and atotal form identiiication section extending across the Width of saidstrip and longitudinally spaced from said item tabulation sections foridentication of each form upon advance of said strip through a readingand tabulating machine therefor, said form identification sectionincluding printed indicia symbolically identifying :said formidentification section for human recognition and identication and entryof total form information therein, and machine total form sensingindicia on said strip at both of the ends thereof beyond thelongitudinally spaced series of said machine initiating indicia.

2. A machine readable tabulating form comprising a paper strip ofsubstantially greater length than Width having a multiplicity ofindividual quality tabulation sections extending across the width ofsaid strip and longitudinally spaced from one Aanother for sequentialreading of said sections upon longitudinal advance of said strip througha reading and tabulating machine therefor, said quality tabulationsections each including in a single line, transversely arranged andaligned, printed indicia symbolically identifying each of said qualitytabulation sections for human recognition, machine initiating indiciafor machine recognition of each individual quality tabulation sectionand machine tabulating indicia defining a code for tabulating a qualityentered in each quality tabulation section, and a series of uniformlyspaced apertures along at least one long side of said strip forcontrolling the longitudinal advance of said strip through a reading andtabulating machine therefor, each of said apertures being in transverseregistry with a said individual quality tabulation section.

3. A machine readable tabulating form as claimed in claim 2 furtherincluding a co-adhesive glue line on each t5 of the opposite short sidesof said strip, and with said glue lines on opposite faces of said stripfor attaching a plurality of strips to one another in sequence toprovide a form of indeterminate length for machine reading.

4. A machine readable tabulating form as claimed in claim 2 furtherincluding machine total form sensing indicia on said strip at one of thesides thereof beyond the longitudinally spaced series of machineinitiating indicia.

5. A machine readable tabulating form comprising a paper strip ofsubstantially greater length than width and having a plurality offoldable pages defined by lines of perforations extending throughout thewidth of the strip, said pages including beginning and end terminatingpages, `said strip having a multiplicity of individual item tabulationsections extending across the width of said strip and longitudinallyspaced from one another for sequential reading of said sections uponlongitudinal advance of said strip through a reading and tabulatingmachine therefor, said item tabulation sections each including in asingle line, transversely arranged and aligned, printed indiciasymbolically identifying each of said item tabulation sections for humanrecognition, machine initiating indicia for machine recognition of eachindividual item tabulation section and machine tabulating indiciadefining a numerical based code for tabulating the quality entered ineach item tabulation section, a series of uniformly spaced aperturesalong at least one long side of said strip for controlling thelongitudinal advance of" said strip through a reading and tabulatingmachine therefor, each of said apertures being in transverse registrywith a said individual item tabulation section and a total formidentification section extending across the width of said strip andlongitudinally spaced from said item tabulation sections foridentification of each form.

6. A machine readable tabulating form as claimed in claim 5 wherein saidapertures in each page are positioned in registry with like apertures inall other pages when said pages are folded.

7. A machine readable tabulating form as claimed in claim 5 wherein saidterminating pages each have a coadhesive glue line adjacent itsterminating edge, with said glue lines being on opposite faces of saidstrip for attaching a plurality of strips to one another in sequence toprovide a form of indeterminate length for machine reading.

8. A machine readable tabulating form as claimed in claim 7 wherein oneof said terminating pages is reduced in length to an extent at least asgreat as the width of said glue lines.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,081,314 12/13Legg 235--50 XR 1,385,569 7/21 Mayer et al.

1,508,095 9/24 Fuller 23S-61.12 2,171,556 9/39 Higginbottom etal.235-61.l2 2,258,204 10/41 Gould 23S-61.11 XR 2,288,360 6/42 Jensen.

2,302,081 11/ 42 Weitmann 23S-61.11 XR 2,402,222 6/ 46 Willis 235*61.11XR 2,547,838 4/51 Russel 23S- 61.12

MALCOLM A. MORRISON, Primary Examiner.

LEO SMILOW, Examiner.

2. A MACHINE READABLE TABULATING FORM COMPRISING A PAPER STRIP OFSUBSTANTIALLY GREATER LENGTH THAN WIDTH HAVING A MULTIPLICITY OFINDIVIDUAL QUALITY TABULATION SECTIONS EXTENDING ACROSS THE WIDTH OFSAID STRIP AND LONGITUDINALLY SPACED FROM ONE ANOTHER FOR SEQUENTIALREADING OF SAID SECTIONS UPON LONGITUDINAL ADVANCE OF SAID STRIP THROUGHA READING AND TABULATING MACHINE THEREFOR, SAID QUALITY TABULATIONSECTIONS EACH INCLUDING IN A SINGLE LINE, TRANSVERSELY ARRANGED ANDALIGNED, PRINTED INDICIA SYMBOLICALLY IDENTIFYING EACH OF SAID QUALITYTABULATION SECTIONS FOR HUMAN RECOGNITION, MACHINE INITIATING INDICIAFOR MACHINE RECOGNITION OF EACH INDIVIDUAL QUALITY TABULATION SECTIONAND MACHINE TABULATING INDICIA DEFINING A CODE FOR TABULATING A QUALITYENTERED IN EACH QUALITY TABULATION SECTION, AND A SERIES OF UNIFORMLYSPACED APERTURES ALONG AT LEAST ONE LONG SIDE OF SAID STRIP FORCONTROLLING THE LONGITUDINAL ADVANCE OF SAID STRIP THROUGH A READING ANDTABULATING MACHINE THEREFOR, EACH OF SAID APERTURES BEING IN TRANSVERSEREGISTRY WITH A SAID INDIVIDUAL QUALITY TABULATION SECTION.